'Save Our Services' campaign group to meet tonight

Group will discuss West Berkshire Council's proposed cuts to public services

Mon, 22 Feb 2016

Reporter:

Dan Cooper

Contact:

01635 886632

A CAMPAIGN group set up to fight West Berkshire Council’s proposed cuts to public services will hold the first of its two meetings tonight (Mon).

The council is looking to close libraries, children's centres and care homes as well as cutting funding for disabled children, theatres and roads in a bid to save £17.5m in 2016/17.

West Berkshire SOS (Save Our Services) has been formed to urge the council to rethink the proposals.

The new group, started by David Marsh, is welcoming support from people all over West Berkshire – and is posting updates and news about the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

A spokesman for West Berkshire SOS said: “The Conservatives have targeted some of the most vulnerable groups in our communities, and their proposals as they stand are widely opposed by a majority of people in West Berkshire.

“Our group will give those people a voice.

“We hope supporters of all local political parties will be involved – and that includes Conservatives, many of whom must be wondering if they really voted for their libraries to be closed, their bus services to be taken away, and their local school crossing patrol to be scrapped.

“We believe there are still avenues to be explored to make savings without making children less safe, elderly people more isolated, and West Berkshire trapped in years of cuts and decline.”

The campaign group says it wants to minimise the effect of any cuts on the most vulnerable people in the community, including children, elderly people and those with learning or physical disabilities.

“It also plans to put forward alternatives to the spending cuts, where possible, and to discuss different approaches.

The campaign has organised two public meetings, on Monday, at St George’s Church Hall, Wash Common, at 8pm, and on Thursday February 25, at ACE Space, Newbury, at 7.30pm.